The Cost of Following Jesus

Luke 14
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Probably most of you be like, "There's a price? But I thought salvation is the gift of God? Free?" 

Oh yes! Praise God our salvation is the gift of God. It is free. It is by grace through faith!

Ephesians 2:

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

John 3

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John 6

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Salvation is free and available to anyone who would call out to Jesus. 

John 10

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Acts 2

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

But I'm not talking about salvation here. 

I'm after DISCIPLESHIP. 

Luke 14

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Those verses did not say, "he cannot be saved..." 

Jesus was talking about discipleship here. 

Now what is a disciple? 

A disciple is a follower of Christ. Someone who learns from God day by day as he go and follow Him. 

He walks with God. 

Amos 3

3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

You see, it's really easy to be saved.
Salvation through Christ only needs faith, even faith as big as a mustard seed.
And that faith changes the person to become a new creature.

But following Jesus in a world such as where we live, is difficult.

Ephesians 6
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.


1 John 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

John 15
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

Luke 6
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

People will mock you. People will make fun of you.
This world will try to make you doubt the Bible, to make you think God doesn't exist and everything we read in the bible is a lie.

Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Philippians 1
28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;




As we try to live for God, to live according to the bible, this world will hate us.

The bible is against homosexuality. If you live according to the Bible, you ought to hate it too.
It's a sin against God.
Will you have the courage to stand firm on that belief when people ask you why? When they start saying that you are a hater and very much close-minded?

The bible is against divorce, abortion, premarital sex, polygamy, drugs,etc.
When you go against these, people will hate you, people will avoid you.
Are you ready for that?

People will think you are foolish because you believe that a man (some don't believe Jesus is God) died 200 years ago and rose up from the grave. They'll think you're insane for believing that!

1 Corinthians 1
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.


Being a disciple of Jesus won't make you popular in this world.
The world will hate you. 
But who cares?

Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Matthew 16
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Colossians 3
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

2 John 1
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

Revelation 22
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

We are serving the Almighty God.
We are on the winning side.
So be not afraid of the reproach and sufferings that you shall go through.

Philippians 1
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Hebrews 6
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

There are hundreds of verses in the bible that encourage us believers as we follow God in this evil world.
This is one of my favorites.

Psalm 73
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Hang in there brothers and sisters.
Jesus is coming soon.

2 Timothy 1
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be upon you.
AMEN.

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Job 1
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Surely, there are times in our lives where we feel like God abandoned us. Or when things are not going well, we think as if God is punishing us or maybe God hates us.

When things are not going the way we want them to, do we have the faith to still worship God and say "Blessed be the name of the Lord"?

I pray that we all do.
When things are going well and God blesses us with marvelous things, even things we didn't ask Him, we don't question Him "Why are You blessing me?"

So why should we question Him when He allows trials and problems in our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

God is love. 
If you are a Christian, you should know that He is your Father.
He wants what's best for us. We may not always understand, because of we do, then we'll be like God, all-knowing.

He knows the beginning to the end. He wants us to trust Him and believe that what we are made to experience is necessary to be Christ-like. Isn't that our goal?

It's not going to be easy to live by faith, so why don't we ask Him to increase our faith and praise Him in this storm? To praise Him while we are in the wilderness?

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

If you are reading this and you are being tested by the Lord, if you are experiencing hardships and you feel so down, I am praying for you.

Remember, this is not our home. We all know how it ends. We'll be with Him.

2 Corinthians 4
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

May the grace of our Lord be upon you.
Amen. 

Okay.. What's with the KJV people???!!!

“The King James Bible is the best version available in the English language today. It is built on the solid rock foundation of faith instead of the shifting sands of doubt that the modern versions are built on.”

Why You Should Use The King James Bible

© July 2002 by David L. Brown, Ph.D.

Introduction

The battle over Bible versions rages on. However, I have settled that issue in my mind, based on the facts, many years ago. But, I know there are may people in the pews of our churches who still struggle with the Bible Version issue. I regularly get phone calls from people who have heard that I stand for the Received Text and the King James Bible. They ask me, “Why do you advocate the use of the King James Bible?” and/or “Isn’t this version or that version a good version?”

In a clear, concise and uncomplicated way, I want to explain to the Christian struggling with the version issue, why I came to the conclusion that the King James Bible is the best version available in the English language today.

As you are reading this report, there are high stakes races on, in the publishing world, to come out with, so called, “newer and better” versions of the English Bible. And, what is their motive? There are countless versions of the English Bible on store shelves today. In my local “Christian” bookstore I believe there were about 24 different English Versions available.

Is their some noble spiritual objective behind all these modern versions like there was with William Tyndale, Myles Coverdale, John Rogers, those behind the Geneva and King James Bible? I think not! The truth be known, I fear that the publishers are rooting for revenue in the religious pigpen.

Now, for a moment, let’s cut the publishers some slack. Let’s assume, for the sake of argument, that they have noble motives. Will noble motives make their translations come out better? The answer is NO! Here’s why. They are building on the wrong foundation, right from the start! There are basically only two foundations that Bible translations have been and are being built upon. It is either the foundation of faith or the foundation of doubt.

· THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH

Let’s begin with the foundation of faith. The key issue is this: I believe that God inspired the original writings of the Bible, which are called the autographa. There are many verses that teach this. Here are two key verses that I want you to see…

2 Peter 1:20-21 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation (that is, they did not originate with man). 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

But, there is also the matter of verbal preservation of the apographa (copies of the originals). I believe that God has preserved His Words in the copies of those original writings in the Hebrew Masoretic Text of the Old Testament and the Traditional Text (Textus Receptus) of the New Testament.

I have FAITH that the God who inspired the original autographs can and did preserve the apographs so that we can say, “Thus saith the Lord; This IS the Word of God” when we hold up our King James Bibles.

Nineteenth century believing Bible scholar par excellent, John Burgon wrote: "If you and I believe that the original writings of the Scriptures were verbally inspired by God, then of necessity they must have been providentially preserved through the ages."

The Westminster Confession of Faith published in the 1600’s says, "The Old Testament in Hebrew, and the New Testament in Greek, being immediately inspired by God and by His singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical, so as in all controversies of religion the Church is finally to appeal unto them."

My point in quoting this document is simply this; Bible believing Christians in the past, for the most part, believed in the inspiration and providential preservation of the of the Word of God. It is only in the last quarter of the 19th century and 20th century that born again Christians have believed anything else!

In fact, the Bible teaches providential preservation! The Lord Jesus Christ taught providential preservation. In Matthew 4:4 we read, "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Did you know that no original manuscripts existed in Christ’s day? Yet, Christ confidently quoted a portion of Deuteronomy 8:3 as the authoritative Word of God, and it was copy of the original without a doubt.

There are many Scriptures that indicate God has providentially preserved His Word. Here are just a few.

Psalms 12:6-7 "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever."

Psalms 33:11 "The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations."

Psalms 100:5 "For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

Luke 16:17 "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail."

1 Peter 1:23, 25 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."

I believe God. What he promised, He is able to perform (Romans 4:21). He has promised to preserved His Word(s), and I believe Him. I have the faith that He has done it. Therefore, I have chosen to use the King James Bible, because it is built on the Traditional Text, which is laid on the foundation of faith.

What about all of the modern versions of the Bible? What foundation are they built upon? Princeton Theological Seminary textual critic Dr. Bruce Metzger, who is behind the Greek text used in translating the modern versions of the Bible, writing to Dr. Kirt D. DiVietro testified that the text they founded their work on was that of Westcott and Hort. He wrote, “We took as our base at the beginning the text of Westcott and Hort and introduced changes as seemed necessary on the basis of MSS evidence.”

Modern versions are erected on the faulty foundation of doubt! Here’s why I say that. Westcott and Hort speculated, with no evidence to support their idea, that the “pure” text of the New Testament had been lost. They said that the Antiochian text (also called the Traditional Text, Textus Receptus, etc.), the text type behind the King James New Testament, was an artificial and arbitrarily invented text, fabricated between 250 A.D. and 350 A.D. In fact, Westcott and and Hort asserted that it remained lost until the 19th century when Vaticanus was rediscovered in 1845 in the Vatican library, where it had lain since 1481, and Sinaiticus was discovered in a wastebasket in St. Catherine’s Monastery in 1844.

Figure it out. If you believe their conjured theory, that means people were without the Word of God for 1500 years! Therefore, the question must be, were Westcott and Hort correct? Had the Word of God been lost for 1500 years?

Dr. F. H. A Scrivener wrote:

"Dr. Hort's System is entirely destitute of historical foundation….We are compelled to repeat as emphatically as ever our strong conviction that the hypothesis to whose proof he has devoted so many laborious years, is destitute not only of historical foundation, but of all probability…” (Dr. F. H. A. Scrivener's Plain Introduction, 1883, pp. 537, 542).

Further, he stated;

"There is little hope for the stability of their imposing structure (speaking of Westcott & Hort), if its foundations have been laid on the sandy ground of ingenious conjecture. And, since barely the smallest vestige of historical evidence has ever been alleged in support of the views of these accomplished editors, their teaching must either be received as intuitively true, or dismissed from our consideration as precarious and even visionary." (Dr. F. H. A. Scrivener's Plain Introduction, 1883, p. 531).

In summary, I have chosen to use the English Bible that is built on the solid foundation of faith, believing that God has preserved His Words in the Masoretic Hebrew text and the Textus Receptus Greek text, and that the King James Bible “preserves” in the English language, by accurate translation, that preserved Hebrew Masoretic and Textus Receptus Greek texts.

By the same token, I must say that if you hold to a modern version of the Bible, you have chosen the sandy ground of ingenious conjecture. The critical scholars behind the modern versions do not believe that God preserved His Words as He said He did. In fact, they are not sure where His Words are. They are frantically revising, adding, deleting, modifying, and changing God’s Words as is right in their own eyes.

Will you choose the solid foundation of faith or the sandy foundation of doubt?

Once the foundation is laid, the building begins! Those who are building on the foundation of doubt have a low regard for the Scriptures while those who are building on the foundation of faith have a high regard for the Scriptures.

A LOW REGARD FOR THE SCRIPTURES

Would you trust a preacher or a Bible scholar who said the Bible was just a book like any other book? I hope that not a single person listening or reading this would trust him. Yet, millions of Christians, who use the modern versions of the Bible, essentially trust the judgment of those who treat the Bible as just another book. Here’s proof…

Dr. Edward Hills wrote, “Westcott and Hort followed an essentially naturalistic Method. Indeed they prided themselves on treating the text of the New Testament as they would that of any other book, making little or nothing of inspiration and providence.” (Edward F. Hills, The King James Version Defended, pp. 65,66).

In other words, they treated the Bible just like they would the works of Plato, Shakespeare, C. S. Lewis, J. K. Rowling or any other fallible book. In fact, neither believed in the infallibility of the Bible.

Brooke Foss Westcott stated emphatically, “"No one now, I suppose, holds that the first three chapters of Genesis, for example, give a literal history - I could never understand how anyone reading them with open eyes could think they did.”

Further he wrote, "I never read of the account of a miracle but I seem instinctively to feel its improbability, and discover some want of evidence in the account of it." (Life and Letters of Brooke Foss Westcott; page 216) Again Westcott said, "I reject the word infallibility of Holy Scriptures overwhelmingly." (The Life and Letters of Brook Foss Westcott, p.207).

Concerning Fenton John Anthony Hort, Dr. Wilbur Pickering writes, "Hort did not hold to a high view of inspiration." (The Identity of the New Testament Text, p.212).

Some might protest that the low regard of the Scriptures held by Westcott and Hort has nothing to do with the modern versions of today. They are wrong.

First, the new Bible versions are built on the Greek New Testament compiled by them.

Secondly, current day New Version Potentate Princeton Theological Seminary Professor Bruce Metzger has a low regard for the Scriptures as well. He doubts Moses alone authored the Pentateuch. As Co-editor of the New Oxford Annoted Bible RSV he wrote or approved of notes asserting that the Pentateuch is “a matrix of myth, legend, and history” that “took shape over a long period of time” and is “not to be read as history.” Job is called an “ancient folktale.” And the book of Isaiah was written by as least three men. Jonah is called “popular legend.” Then add to that, Metzger claims that the Gospels are composed of material gathered from oral tradition. The problem is, he completely ignores the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the testimony of the Bible itself!

Exodus 24:4 "And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel."

John 7:19 Jesus said, "Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?"

Matthew 12:40 Jesus said, "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

Let me ask you a question. How can you trust a Bible that has been tampered with by men who neither respect it nor hold it in any higher regard than they would the works of Shakespeare? The answer is clear, you cannot.

· A HIGH REGARD FOR THE BIBLE

I have a high regard for the Scriptures. I believe it stands forever. Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

I believe that through the Word of God people are born again. John 20:31 "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." 1 Peter 1:23 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

I will not align myself with those who profane the Scriptures. The King James Bible is founded upon Traditional Text types collated by men who had a high regard for the Bible. Consider for instance, the often-maligned Desidarius Erasmus. He wrote the following in the Preface to his Greek New Testament, which clearly shows he reverenced and loved the Holy Scriptures…

“These holy pages will summon up the living image of His mind. They will give you Christ Himself, talking, healing, dying, rising, the whole Christ in a word; they will give Him to you in an intimacy so close that He would be less visible to you if He stood before your eyes.” (An Introduction to the Textual Criticism of the New Testament; Robertson; p. 54)

Erasmus also wrote this:

“Therefore if you will dedicate yourself wholly to the study of the Scriptures, if you will meditate on the law of the Lord day and night, you will not be afraid of the terror of the night or of the day, but you will be fortified and trained against every onslaught of the enemy.” (Advocates of Reform: From Wyclif to Erasmus; Matthew Spinka; p. 304: by way of Sorenson; Touch Not The Unclean Thing)

Further he proclaimed,

“Christ Jesus…is the true light, alone shattering the night of earthly folly, the Splendor of paternal glory, who as he was made redemption and justification for us reborn in him, so also was made Wisdom (as Paul testifies): ‘We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Gentiles foolishness; but to them that are called, both Jew and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.’” (Advocates of Reform: From Wyclif to Erasmus; Matthew Spinka; p. 309: by way of Sorenson; Touch Not The Unclean Thing)

There are others to consider, such as Theodore Beza. Does anyone doubt the fact that Theodore Beza had a high regard for the Bible? The reason I bring this up is that the King James translators are said to have worked primarily from his 5th edition of the Received Text by Beza. If you do have any doubts about where Beza stood, I challenge you to read his book, The Christian Faith. He says this: “On the subject of the Word of God, the canonical books of the Old and New Testament…proceed from the mouth of God Himself.”

I use the King James Bible because it is built upon texts that were collated by people who had a high regard for the Word(s) of God. Further, it is the most meticulous English translation ever produced.

Next, let’s consider the manuscripts that were used. The modern versions are built on…

· A FEW CORRUPT MANUSCRIPTS

For a more complete treatment of this issue, log on to http://logosresourcepages.org/uncials.htm and read my article “The Great? Uncials.”

As you will recall, I shared with you a quote by Bruce Metzger. He tells how they developed their Greek text for the modern versions. He said, “We took as our base at the beginning the text of Westcott and Hort and introduced changes as seemed necessary on the basis of MSS evidence.”

So, what manuscripts did Westcott and Hort use to get their Greek New Testament? They used primarily two old 4th century manuscripts for their work. Hort’s partiality for Codex Vaticanus (B) was practically absolute. Intuitively, (without evidence) he believed it to be a near perfect representation of the Greek New Testament. Whenever pages were missing in Vaticanus he would use Codex Sinaiticus (ALEPH) to fill in the gap. While most modern version “scholars” claim that “the oldest is the best,” (and they have these two manuscripts in mind), this certainly is NOT true with these two manuscripts.

For example, we read this about Codex Vaticanus (B) -- "The entire manuscript has had the text mutilated, every letter has been run over with a pen, making exact identification of many of the characters impossible." More specifically, the manuscript is faded in places; scholars think it was overwritten letter by letter in the 10th or 11th century, with accents and breathing marks added along with corrections from the 8th, 10th and 15th centuries. Those who study manuscripts say, All this activity makes precise paleographic analysis impossible. Missing portions were supplied in the 15th century by copying other Greek manuscripts. How can you call this manuscript “the oldest and the best.”

On the next page you will see an example of the problems that come into play when there are multiple corrections within a manuscript. The page is from 4th century Codex Vaticanus. Here we see Hebrews 1 of Codex Vaticanus. Though hard to see in this size, notice the marginal note between the first and second column. A corrector of the text had erased a word in verse 3 and substituted another word in its place. A second corrector came along, erased the correction, reinserted the original word, and wrote a note in the margin to castigate the first corrector. The note reads, “Fool and knave, leave the old reading, don’t change it!”

What aboutt Codex Sinaiticus (ALEPH)? This is a Greek manuscript of the Old and New Testaments, found on Mount Sinai, in St. Catherine's Monastery, which was a Greek Orthodox Monistary, by Constantin Tischendorf. He was visiting there in 1844, under the patronage of Frederick Augustus, King of Saxony, when he discovered 34 leaves in a rubbish basket. He was permitted to take them, but did not get the remainder of the manuscript until 1859. Constantin Von Tischendorf identified the handwriting off four different scribes in the writing of that text. But that is not the end of the scribal problems! The early corrections of the manuscript are made from Origen's corrupt source. As many as ten scribes tampered with the codex. Tischendorf said he "counted 14,800 alterations and corrections in Sinaiticus." Alterations, and more alterations, and more alterations were made, and in fact, most of them are believed to be made in the 6th and 7th centuries. So much for the oldest!!

“On nearly every page of the manuscript there are corrections and revisions, done by 10 different people.” He goes on to say, “…the New Testament…is extremely unreliable…on many occasions 10, 20, 30, 40, words are dropped…letters, words even whole sentences are frequently written twice over, or begun and immediately canceled. That gross blunder, whereby a clause is omitted because it happens to end in the same word as the clause preceding, occurs no less than 115 times in the New Testament.”

Constantin von Tischendorf

Here are several examples of di homoeotéleuton omissions. The word di homoeotéleuton is Greek for "because of a similar ending." Here are some examples of the sloppy work of the scribes.

Note: In the following passages the italicized, bold words are omitted in Sinaiticus…

1 Cor. 13:1-2. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Here the scribe had copied the verse up to the end of the first "and have not charity," but when he looked up to his example again to continue copying, his eye fell upon the second occurrence of the phrase, from which he continued, omitting all of those words between the two occurrences of the phrase.

Now a more complicated example:

1 Cor. 15:25-27. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet.

Here it is not immediately clear what has happened. But when it is known that in some early manuscripts the order of clauses is as shown below, once again we see that the scribe's eye has jumped from the first occurrence of a phrase to the second occurrence:

For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. For he hath put all things under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

And in the very next verse another such omission:

1 Cor. 15:27-28. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did subject unto him all things. 28 And when there shall be subjected unto him all things, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

These di homoeotéleuton omissions number about 300 in the New Testament of Codex Sinaiticus. They are not taken seriously as various readings by the editors of critical editions and in fact are not even mentioned in the notes of the critical editions of currently used translations. (Information - http://www.bible-researcher.com/faulty.html).

While these manuscripts may be (or may not be) old, it is obvious that they are corrupt. It is these corrupt manuscripts that form the basis to the modern Bible versions.

However, that is NOT the case with our King James Version of the Bible. It is based on…

· MASSIVE MANUSCRIPT EVIDENCE

While it is true that there are about 45 to 50 Greek manuscripts that support the Westcott/Hort Greek text that underlies the modern versions of the Bible, you must realize that there are more than 5000 that support the Textus Receptus type text that underlies our King James Bible. Figure it out. 99% of all the manuscript evidence supports the text type that the King James Bible is translated from. Further, this text type is overwhelmingly supported by the early church fathers.

Christian friends, there is no doubt in my mind that underlying the King James New Testament is a superior Greek text!

While there are many more things that could be said, this will be my final point relating to the method of translation.

· FORMAL EQUIVOLENCY – A SUPERIOR METHOD OF TRANSLATION

The King James Bible translators used a superior method in translating called formal equivalency. Formal Equivalence, sometimes called Verbal Equivalence is a method of translation, which takes the Greek, and Hebrew words and renders them as closely as possible into English. This is the method used by the King James translators and is certainly a superior method, seeing that our Lord is concerned about every word, even the jots and tittles (Matthew 5:18; 24:35).

· DYNAMIC EQUIVOLENCY & PARAPHRASING – AN INFERIOR METHOD OF TRANSLATING

The modern versions of the Bible use dynamic equivalency, also called concept inspiration in their translations. Dynamic Equivalence is not following a word for word translation but changing, adding, or subtracting from the original to make it flow as the translator sees fit. We are warned against this in the Bible (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:5-6; Revelation 22:19). The New International Version is this type of a version.

Then, there is one further step that is even worse and that is paraphrasing. Paraphrasing is simply taking what the text says and rewriting it to what you think it says. It is more like a condensed commentary than a Bible. The most popular paraphrase is the Living Bible. It is really not a translation at all!

I use the King James Bible because it certainly is superior in its translation.

There is much more that could be said, but I will save that for another time. Therefore I will move to the summary.

· The King James Bible is built on the foundation of faith by men who had a high regard for the Bible, using massive manuscript evidence to support their work. They meticulously translated the Greek and Hebrew words, rendering them as closely as possible into English.

· The Modern versions are built on a foundation of doubt by men who have a low regard for the Bible. A few corrupt manuscripts were used to support their work. For the most part, they loosely translated the concepts of the Greek and Hebrew and some versions are even sloppier, not translating at all but paraphrasing.

I have to wonder: If you are not using the King James Bible, why not?

---

(Epistle Dedicatory In The King James 1611)

TO THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE

JAMES,

BY THE GRACE OF GOD

KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND IRELAND,
DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, &C.,/P

The Translators of the Bible wish Grace, Mercy and Peace,
through JESUS CHRIST, our Lord.

GREAT and manifold were the blessings, most dread Sovereign, which Almighty God, the Father of all mercies, bestowed upon us the people of England, when first he sent Your Majesty's Royal Person to rule and reign over us. For whereas it was the expectation of many, who wished not well unto our Sion, that upon the setting of that bright Occidental Star, Queen Elizabeth of most happy memory, some thick and palpable clouds of darkness would so have overshadowed this Land, that men should have been in doubt which way they were to walk; and that it should hardly be known, who was to direct the unsettled State; the appearance of your Majesty, as the Sun in his strength, instantly dispelled those supposed and surmised mists, and gave unto all that were well affected exceeding cause of comfort; especially when we beheld the Government established in Your Highness, and Your hopeful Seed, by an undoubted Title, and this also accompanied with peace and tranquillity at home and abroad.

But among all our joys, there was no one that more filled our hearts, than the blessed continuance of the preaching of God's sacred Word among us; which is that inestimable treasure, which excelleth all the riches of the earth; because the fruit thereof extendeth itself, not only to the time spent in this transitory world, but directeth and disposeth men unto that eternal happiness which is above in heaven.

Then not to suffer this to fall to the ground, but rather to take it up, and to continue it in that state, wherein the famous Predecessor of Your Highness did leave it: nay, to go forward with the confidence and resolution of a Man in maintaining the truth of Christ, and propagating it far and near, is that which hath so bound and firmly knit the hearts of all Your Majesty's loyal and religious people unto You, that Your very name is precious among them: their eye doth behold You with comfort, and they bless You in their hearts, as that sanctified Person who, under God, is the immediate Author of their true happiness. And this their contentment doth not diminish or decay, but every day increaseth and taketh strength, when they observe, that the zeal of Your Majesty toward the house of God doth not slack or go backward, but is more and more kindled, manifesting itself abroad in the farthest parts of Christendom, by writing in defence of the Truth, (which hath given such a blow unto that man of sin, as will not be healed,) and every day at home, by religious and learned discourse, by frequenting the house of God, by hearing the Word preached, by cherishing the Teachers thereof, by caring for the Church, as a most tender and loving nursing Father.

There are infinite arguments of this right Christian and religious affection in Your Majesty; but none is more forcible to declare it to others than the vehement and perpetuated desire of accomplishing and publishing of this work, which now with all humility we present unto Your Majesty. For when Your Highness had once out of deep judgment apprehended how convenient it was, that out of the Original Sacred Tongues, together with comparing of the labours, both in our own, and other foreign Languages, of many worthy men who went before us, there should be one more exact Translation of the holy Scriptures into the English Tongue; Your Majesty did never desist to urge and to excite those to whom it was commended, that the work might be hastened, and that the business might be expedited in so decent a manner, as a matter of such importance might justly require.

And now at last, by the mercy of God, and the continuance of our labours, it being brought unto such a conclusion, as that we have great hopes that the Church of England shall reap good fruit thereby; we hold it our duty to offer it to Your Majesty, not only as to our King and Sovereign, but as to the principal Mover and Author of the work: humbly craving of Your most Sacred Majesty, that since things of this quality have ever been subject to the censures of illmeaning and discontented persons, it may receive approbation and patronage from so learned and judicious a Prince as Your Highness is, whose allowance and acceptance of our labours shall more honour and encourage us, than all the calumniations and hard interpretations of other men shall dismay us. So that if, on the one side, we shall be traduced by Popish Persons at home or abroad, who therefore will malign us, because we are poor instruments to make God's holy Truth to be yet more and more known unto the people, whom they desire still to keep in ignorance and darkness; or if, on the other side, we shall be maligned by self-conceited Brethren, who run their own ways, and give liking unto nothing, but what is framed by themselves, and hammered on their anvil; we may rest secure, supported within by truth and innocency of a good conscience, having walked the ways of simplicity and integrity, as before the Lord; and sustained without by the powerful protection of Your Majesty's grace and favour, which will ever give countenance to honest and christian endeavours against bitter censures and uncharitable imputations.

The Lord of heaven and earth bless Your Majesty with many and happy days, that, as his heavenly hand hath enriched Your Highness with many singular and extraordinary graces, so You may be the wonder of the world in this latter age for happiness and true felicity, to the honour of that great GOD, and the good of his Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour.

---

King James Bible Research Council Publishers

David L. Brown, Ph.D.

P.O. Box 173

Oak Creek, WI 53154

KJB.Research.Council@gmail.com


http://www.kjbresearchcouncil.com/Pages/Why.htm

I Have Decided to Write YOU a Letter

Hi,
           This is new to me. I have never written you a letter like this. Never. I never acknowledged what we have until now. And now I realize why.

           I have always been ashamed of our relationship. We've been a secret. We were hidden. Secret Lovers.
No one but you and me knew that we were together. And I wanted it to keep that way. I cannot live a life if people knew we're together.

           I knew we were a lie. I knew we were in darkness. But I stayed with you. For slowly, you dwelt inside my heart and my mind that you were as a necessity. I thought I needed you.
          
           You see, we started out right. We started out as sweet lovers. I thought you were offering me love. You took advantage to the fact that the Man of the house was away. No one can protect me. You can get me.
Your sweet words and promises like water, quenching the fire burning down my throat in need of love. I thought you were offering me love. The pleasure I had with your company took me away. I was yours. I said yes to your love. I thought you were offering me love.
          
           We started out little. We settled for the small things. Until passion took us away, and then we stepped out. We transformed into something darker. Something that needed more hiding. Now, as much as I needed you, my shame grew. But since my shame is fed by knowledge of others, there's no fear in me for we are in darkness and no one can see us.

          Had I known that your purpose was to trick and deceive me, I wouldn't have reached for your hand to take that "love" I thought you were offering. YOU LIED! YOU LIED! YOU DON'T LOVE ME! There is no love in you. You cannot love!

         For in the appointed time, when my Father took me home in His arms, that's when I knew that all you have been was a lie!

        You stole from me. You killed me. You destroyed me. I have been dead.

        Now I regret the day I met you.

        So, I tried to break up with you. It was an indirect order of my Dad. He knew I was obsessed with you but also emphasized how you only break my bones. So, He gave me the mercy and grace whenever I had to secretly meet up with you during midnights when I miss you so much. He understood what we were and what we are now. So that when morning comes and I come knocking at the door asking my Dad to let me enter, He'd shout, "Darling I never lock the door." He still receives me as an undefiled daughter, always graceful, always lovely. Even if He knew where I have been. For He knew the price to pay to have me as His daughter again. He paid it already.

        When I see you, when you surprise me out in the streets, you always try to scare me into thinking that I can never wash myself of the filth that we were. That my identity is tied with you and I can never change it. You make me wallow in the mud that we play on, saying morning shall never come.

        But I have been tired. I want you completely out of my life. I want you to go away for good. That even if I see you in the streets, even if you are out by my window at midnight calling out my name, I won't hear you. I won't listen to you. I won't recognize you.

        For my past that you keep on throwing at my face is no more. I am predestined to be with another Man and my identity shall come from Him and Him alone.

        I know how intelligent you are. You know me so well that you are able to do almost anything to make me run back to you. And so, I may go out in the dark wanting to meet up with you again. But I want you to know that my heart doesn't belong to you anymore. I was given a new heart and I have given it to my Beloved. My Beloved is mine and His desire is toward me.

        I decided to write to you so that I can show you how willing I am now to burn you into ashes. How I asked my Father to hunt you down and to fully destroy you. For this is the only way I can have a life and have it more abundant.

        It is not me who works. It is my Father. So be afraid. For I know whom I believe and He will soon crush your head under my feet.

        I will nail you and all our memories on a tree. I am a new creature now. And I never knew you.

        Until then! I will see you in your prison covered in fire.


To: Addiction.
From: Victim.     

How To Be Saved

In order to let you know HOW to be saved, I need to ask a few questions first.

1. DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD?

Psalms 14:1        The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Romans 1

19        Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20        For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Jeremiah 5:4        Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.

Hebrews 11:3        Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Hebrews 11:6        But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD CREATED YOU AND HE, BY HIS PERFECT JUSTICE, WILL JUDGE HOW YOU LIVED YOUR LIFE?

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Isaiah 42

5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

Isaiah 45
18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

Malachi 2
10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

Genesis 18
25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Isaiah 139        Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

Hebrews 9
27        And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

3. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE A SINNER, WICKED and THERE IS NO GOOD THING IN YOU?
[To say "NO" you must have been able to obey the 10 commandments perfectly. ]
 

Numbers 15

31 Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.

Romans 1
18        For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
 

Job 31
3 Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

Romans 7
18        For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Ecclesiastes 7
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Romans 3
3 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

1 John 1
8        If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.


4. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE PERFECT AND WHO GOD HAS JUSTIFIED TO BE RIGHT WITH HIM, SHALL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?

Psalm 15

1        LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

2        He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

3        He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

4        In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

5        He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved

Psalm 24

3        Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

4        He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

5        He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6        This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

 

Matthew 5

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

 

1 Corinthians 6

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

 

Galatians 5

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
 

4. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT EVEN YOUR BEST DEEDS ARE WORTH NOTHING TO GOD BECAUSE OF YOUR UNHOLINESS AND YOUR WORKS CANNOT OFFSET YOUR SINS?
 

Isaiah 64
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Proverbs 25
14 Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

Job 25

4 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

Psalms 143
2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

Romans 4

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

 

Psalms 89

48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

5. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE GOD IS A JUST GOD, HE SHALL NOT LET ANYONE'S SINS AND TRANSGRESSORS UNPUNISHED?

Job 8

3 Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

Psalms 89

14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

Proverbs 16

5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

Proverbs 17
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Proverbs 19

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

Romans 6
23 For the wages of sin is death…

Ezekiel 18
4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

6. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD IS LOVE AND HE IS MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS?

Deuteronomy 7

9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

 

Ephesians 2

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

1 John 4
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
 

Psalms 103

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

Psalms 116

5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.


7. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD SOLVED THE SITUATION BY SENDING HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST TO DIE THE DEATH THAT WAS DUE FOR MANKIND AND LIVE THE LIFE IN FULL OBEDIENCE TO GOD WHICH WILL BE IMPUTED FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE?

Romans 5

6        For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7        For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8        But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6
23        For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 

Romans 4

11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

John 3

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

8. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THOSE WHO WILL REJECT THE ONLY SOLUTION, THE OFFER OF SALVATION UNTO MANKIND BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST ARE CONDEMNED ALREADY AND THUS SHALL GET WHAT THEY DESERVE; TO SERVE JUSTICE; TO BE CAST INTO HELL FOREVER AS THE PUNISHMENT FOR SINNING AGAINST A THRICE HOLY GOD?

 

Genesis 2

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

 

John 3

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

Romans 6

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Ezekiel 18

4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Deuteronomy 27
26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.

9. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IF YOU ACCEPT GOD'S OFFER OF SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST ALONE, BELIEVE THAT CHRIST CAME, LIVE  A SINLESS LIFE, DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, WAS BURIED and ROSE AGAIN; AND THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE?

 

John 3
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

Romans 10

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

1 Peter 1
21        Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

 

Acts 16

30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Acts 15
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
 

John 3

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 5

34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.

John 10

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Acts 2

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 4

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Acts 11

14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

 

Romans 5

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

John 10

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Acts 13

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Romans 5

21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Titus 1

2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Titus 3

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

1 John 1

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

1 John 2

25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
 

1 John 5

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Jude 1

21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

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DID YOU SAY YES TO ALL?

Now, repent and come to God, ask Him to forgive your sins. He alone can save you.
He wants everyone to be saved. INCLUDING YOU!
He loves you!
Believe in the Lord Jesus and YOU SHALL BE SAVED!

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If you have repented [ a change of mind] and have realized how sinful you are and have asked the Lord to save you and  believe  His promises, REJOICE!
For the Lord knows that you do believe and what He has promised, He is able to perform.

Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;


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So, if I am saved and nothing I can do can cause me to earn or lose my salvation, can I continue on sinning?

God FORBID!

John 12

46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

Romans 6
6        Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7        For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Romans 6:

11        Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12        Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13        Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

14        For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15        What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

16        Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

Because if you really believe the gospel now, IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE A SINNER AND ALL YOU HAVE BEEN DOING WITH YOUR LIFE IS WRONG, and Jesus came so that He could save you from SIN and THE JUDGEMENT against SIN, why would you want to do that again to be defiled again??

Except of course, if you never really believed it to begin with.

.….….….…....................................................................
 

John 3:18
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

DO you care for your SOUL?
REPENT and BELIEVE the GOSPEL. COME TO JESUS… You will find rest unto your SOUL.



Matthew 11

28        Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29        Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30        For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

If you have questions or need anyone to help you regarding the gospel, feel free to leave a message. :) 

Why Should I Study "DOCTRINE"??!!

An Article by:  Dan Mcwhorter

Many people claim that the study of the various doctrines in the Bible is boring, insignificant, and not needed...they claim that doctrine "divides".  Well, I don't agree that studying doctrine is boring, insignificant, or not needed; however, I do agree that doctrine divides...and it should!

What is "doctrine"? Basically, the word doctrine means a principle of belief and instruction.  In other words, doctrine is what you believe and is taught to others.

So, why study "doctrine"?

Let's look at two important reasons as laid out in the Bible...

Colossians 2:1-8
1  For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2  That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3  In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4  And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5  For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Here we have the "good" and the "bad".  First, the good...

In Colossians 2:7, we find three reasons why it's good to grounded in correct doctrine...

• To be rooted - "Rooted" means stable.  If we know correct doctrine, we will be stable and firm in what we believe and why we believe it.  We won't be like the ones that Paul speaks of in Ephesians 4:14...
  Ephesians 4:14
  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
• To be built up in Christ - Jesus is our foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11).  We need to know correct doctrine so that our lives will become more Christ-like and pleasing to the Lord.  Our lives should be a reflection of his!
• To be stablished in the faith - "Stablished" means confirmed.  When we follow correct doctrine, our faith will grow and be confirmed.

So, we need to study correct doctrine to be stable and firm in what we believe.  Being correctly rooted helps us know and avoid false doctrine, and it helps to build up our faith and be pleasing to the Lord; thereby, our faith will be confirmed in Christ...not only in our own lives and eyes but in the eyes of others...and most importantly, in the eyes of the Lord!

Now, the bad.  In Colossians 2:8, Paul gives some warnings about those who want to lead others into false doctrine...these false teachers have four things they want to do...and they do this by "spoiling" others.  Spoil means to lead away or seduce.

• Philosophy - One way they do this is through "philosophy".  Philosophy means the love and pursuit of wisdom.  Often, false teachers want to impress others with their "knowledge"...the "deeper things" they have learned, and they love to be acknowledged for their so-called "wisdom".  Can anyone say, "Calvinism"?
• Vain deceit - Next, false teachers offer their vain deceit.  Vain deceit means "empty lies".  This is so prevalent today...especially among the "health and wealth" preachers! They promise the moon and deliver nothing, and untold thousands are deceived by their lies.
• Tradition of men - Just as Jesus condemned the Pharisees for placing their traditions above God's word, false teachers do the same today.  The Catholic church is notorious for this; however, we have others that claim you must do certain things in order to be saved...you must do certain things, or you're not right with God.  They bring you under the bondage of their traditions and steer you away from the word of God.
• Rudiments of the world - Finally, false teachers steer their followers toward the "rudiments of the world".  Rudiments of the world means the principles of the world.  They get their followers to be worldly minded.  They think that we must adopt the world's philosophies in order to "reach the world".  Can anyone say "Rick Warren" and "Emerging Church"?

So, we have a warning.  We need to study correct doctrine because there are false teachers who want to lead people astray.  They do this through trying to impress people with their wisdom.  They lie to impress others just for self-promotion and self-gain.  They impose their traditions above God's word, and many of them run their so-called "ministries" by worldly principles rather than godly principles (read the book of Jude!).

Unfortunately, cults and some denominations have become rooted, built up, and stablished in false doctrine.  They've built their doctrine on man's wisdom, philosophies, beliefs, and traditions.  Often, they pick a single Bible verse, take it out of context, and build a whole set of doctrines around it.  That's why our doctrine MUST come from the word of God alone!

Doctrine must agree with the Bible! Look at Isaiah 28:9-10...

Isaiah 28:9-10
9  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Precept means command, and line means a cord that connects.  In other words, our doctrine must agree with the Bible as a whole! We should be able to connect our doctrine throughout the whole Bible.  We should never take a verse (or even a few verses) and twist the meaning in order to make it mean what WE want it to mean!

God warns us over and over not to even listen to false doctrine! Here's just a few...

Romans 16:17-18
17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

1 Timothy 1:3-11
3  As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4  Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
5  Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
6  From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
7  Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
8  But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
11  According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

1 Timothy 4:1-13
1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4  For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5  For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
6  If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
7  But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
8  For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
9  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
11  These things command and teach.
12  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

2 Timothy 3:10-17
10  But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11  Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Hebrews 13:9
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

2 John 1:7-11
7  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8  Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.


Why Study "Doctrine"?